The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-02-09


lights concealed all such defects.
Tho weeks drifteds by, and still Hal
Duncan h0vered between life and death.
but at last tho doctors averred that there
must be change for the better or worse
ere long.
A CLINT Of sunshine shone upon the
bowed head OF sister Of mercy as she
busted herself among the mediclne-bottles
on little stand that stood near her
patients bed.
Ever and anon her gaze was directed
with an anxious expression towards her
charge.
How sim he lay, the sheet not whittier
| than his eolorless facet
Once she moved nearer to the DEATH
like form with frightened look gather
ing In her eyes, and caught her breath
with something that sounded like sob
as she noted how wasted the once stall
| wart frame had become.
Her girlish figure and face seemed over
young for such q task. but the doctor who
came In a few minutes afterwards APP
peared highly satisfied with the patients
nurse, for he shook her warmly by the
hand on his leaving. saying:
a. shall recommend you to the faculty
as one OF the best nurses 1t has been nay
! fate to meet. Our patient owes 1t In
| great measure to your untirlng care II he
RECEIVERS. Mind, do not say he will re-
cover, but his symptoms this morning
are decidedly better. and II he awakes
| from this sleep In rational frame OF
| mind. the chances are that we will pull him
through after ALL"
Two weeks after the doctor pronounced
a possibility Of Hal DuncaH's recovery,
| that gentleman was sitting propped up In
h.A Inc the ghost
| of his former self, but with all his facul-
| ties about him.
He was regarding with rather a puzzled
look In his dark eyes the sister OF mercy,
| who was tidying up the room. and whose
| good, honest, kindly face beamed pleas
| antly upon him, and thinking:
"Could hers be the pretty girllsh
| figure of his dreams that had bent so
| lovingly over him when he lay powerless?
Couli those work-roughened hands have
| been tho little ones, so soft and cool,
that in those same dreams had 50 often
rested upon his throbbing brown"
With his weakened voice he called:
i" Nurse"
Then. as she came quickly to his side
| he added:
II have to thank you for your untiring
| care OF me. am afraid never should
have pulled through but for your faithful
watchiulness."
You owe me no thanks quietly an
swered the woman. "What little have
done was only my duty. It Is our work
| to take care of the sick and the friend
less. Besides, ] only took charge of you
when the other nurse was unable to be
here, and now, since you have been pro-
nounced out Of danger"
"The other nurser r. he repeated, won
deringly; then with sudden uplighting
OF his face he murmured half to himself I:
ssThen it was the other one. and my
| dream"
| A knock at the door made itself heard,
| and before the nurse had time to bid who
ever it was to enter. the handle was
turned and Leonie's pretty face APP
| peared.
With feeble cry that perhaps touched
Leonie more than anything else could
have done. Hal Duncan uttered her
name.
Advancing towards the bed, Leonie
muTmured demurely:
81 am glad to see you 30 much better.
1t is nice getting we'll, isn't it2"
! Nicer he repeated. "What have
/ to live for now you have ceased 70 love
! me7"
The piteous ring In his voice was too
much for Leonie. and with the impulslve
cry OF, "0h, Hal, you have me T; III want
you'll" dropped upon her knees and laid
her cheek against the sick mans hand.
Leonie p he exclaimed hoarsely, "do
you really mean it2 Oh, my darling, you
are not saying 1t out of pityf"
ssOh, no, Haitr was the answer. I" AL
though l never knew how much cared
for you until thought you would die,
and-and never meant to keep that ring,
and Tom can tell you that did send 1t
| right back, only was so mad at you that
bought one as near like 1t as could,
\ and wore 1t to tease you; but was SO
miserable all the time, and II you'd only
sal wor,, and not been $3.50 Obsti-
nate "-(ths last with conclusive sob.
us she continuedl: ct have worn your
your ring ever since you have been i'll.
Leonie's head rested on Halls breast
as she went on eagerly:
Tom can tell you how sent back
everything, and refused to have anything
to say to the idiot. How could you think
wouldp Only, you see, had to keep
taking his bouquets, because you wouldn't
mako up. Oh, and when / heard that
almost brokenl Butt wheedled the doc
tor into letting me nurse you along with
the sister, and he says ! am the best
nurse he ever knew, and f-~if you don't
care to makeup why think Twill leave
the stage, and turn sister Of mercy and
| take 10 nursing"
There was a smile dawning upon the
a sick mans mouth, as he said
and 30 my darling was the little nurse
OF my dreams, and was trying to re-
concile myself to the fact that 1t must
have been Sister Agatha"
Tint worthy person had left the room
soon after Leonie entered. She appre
hended the situation and acted with tht
quiet tact OF q woman OF excellent sense
There was silence between the slcl
man and Leonie for moment. then Ha
n said:
ITO your loving care, my darling,
owe my life. but 1t Is perfectly valuelesi
to me unless you share 1t. Leonie, mus
! wait longf"
Leonie's answer must have been salts
factory, for In three weeks from tina
n day there was O wedding at which
Leonie Burns became Mrs. Hal Duncan.
Her exotic admirer has not be seen Il
Stockton since, although It's theatr
soubrette Is as charming as ever, albei
she Is nowthe devoted mothcro OF q Lowell
infant, and the very pattern Of domesti
little vito. And Hal? Well, his cup 0
bliss Is full 10 overlooking.
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